Gig Report: Heil Sound PR-22 Dynamic Mic

I’ve now been gigging and recording with this mic for a couple of weeks straight and I just couldn’t be happier. I have to admit that it has taken me a little while to work out positioning in front of the capsule, as I’ve spent years practically swallowing other mics just to get a good sound. But with this mic, it requires a bit of space; about an inch for regular singing, and if I need to really lay into a vocal, I’ve got to be about eight to twelve inches away.

Also, while the mic is great for lower volume singing, where I find it really shines is when I’m in a band situation where I’m singing with a full voice. And in a band situation, the rear noise rejection is second to none, and this helps quite a bit with mitigating feedback, as I can position my mic near monitors and not worry about feedback.

As far as how it sounds, the tone is just a tad scooped, and the midrange mid-point seems to be on the higher side. But I love that because it picks up higher frequency characteristics. It also means that with this mic, I can punch through a mix. I have to admit that it was a little unsettling at first because that little higher frequency bump makes my vocals sound so clear. That’s not to say the lows aren’t there. They absolutely are. But compared to an SM-58 or even an e835, the richness of the sound is so much better.

Other than how good it sounds, the mic is very well-built. I see no problem with it enduring the rigors of regular gigging. As far as recording is concerned, it works fantastic! But I think I’m still going to save my pennies to get the PR-35 for recording. I’ve gigged with that mic in the past, and the sound quality is even better than the PR-22. However, it is not nearly as durable as it is coated with a silicon layer, and according to the sound guy who provided me with the mic, with a lot of use, the silicon wears off.

Circling back to the PR-22, this to me is the perfect all-around stage mic.